BJP MLA Stops 3 Rajdhani Trains in Jharkhand; Demands Scheduled Stops

Bharatiya Janata Party members on Monday blocked three Rajdhani trains in different places across Jharkhand in a protest against not having reservation counters and scheduled stops by express trains at Parsabad station.

Bharatiya Janata Party supporter on Monday blocked three Rajdhani trains in different places across Jharkhand in a protest against not having reservation counters and scheduled stops by express trains at Parsabad station.

The protest was led by BJP MLA Amit Yadav, who along with his supporters sat on the tracks and held up the express trains in an agitation that he announced will last until 5 pm.

"BJP MLA Amit Yadav and about 500 of his supporters have squatted on both up and down tracks at Parasabad, over 140 km from here, since 5 AM disrupting railway services," Rail Police Force Divisional Commander Shashi Kumar told Press Trust of India.

The three trains were each heading to Howrah, Sealdah in West Bengal and Bhubaneswar in Odisha. The agitations took place at Sharmatand, Parsabad and Koderma Railway station. Local officials failed to take preventive action against the BJP protestors despite having knowledge of Yadav's protest beforehand, sources told NDTV.

Rajadhani express trains connect major state capitals but have very few stops in districts. The passenger trains have the highest priority on the railway network and travel at a speed of up to 140 km/hr. The coaches are fully air-conditioned and passengers are given complimentary meals and several other facilities.